Its funny how much of a rip off the dealerships are when it comes to an alignment. I have a reputable local guy who has been doing alignments for 20+ years and has done so on each of my Lexus cars over the years...charges $75.

I found coupons like these at Lexus dealerships but my local Lexus dealership would NOT match:

 

They give you a before and after printout of the alignment. The independent shop I go to got the toe in the front to 0 and pretty much the same for the rears. Let me see you pep boys and walmart alignment printouts.

 

"Stealerships"..........You can hate or make a friend. Had an audi engine go bad on me. Kept the servcie at the dealership past prepay and after the warranty was out. They offered to either replace the 60,000 on odo engine at no cost with a new one or buy the car back with 25% higher than KBB AND sell me a replacemnt at 20% off MSRP. They stepped up and took care of a customer! we took the new car offer. THey kept a customer.

I don't mind paying for good service, a good car wash, a clean loaner and not overselling me on uneeded service. I have had issues with aggressive service people but I can handle them. Ask questions and research the recommendation. You gain respect and also find if they are over selling or actually making a good suggestions. I don't work in a dealership or any automobile company.

Im not employiong the lowest cost CPA, Attorney, or financial advisor work for me. I find qualified professonals and there is value in them. I buy a premium car I want a premium experience from the car and the servcie process. Currently I one each of a Mercedes, BMW and Audi. The BMW is being replaced by a new Lexus and it will be my first. My hope is I don't have much cause to interact with their service!

If Pep Boys unlimited alignment is a good deal because they can do the right job with good equimpment and provide value then great. If its price only and there is not quantifiable value then perhaps I'd pass.

 

I have never received alignment papers before or for any of my past alignments.

 

If they are not showing you the printout before and after alignment, then you have no idea what was done to your car.
A good independent shop will show you the initial reading, then you can see whats out of spec, then after the alignment you can see how good of a job they did.

Well that's what you get for going to pep boys or walmart I guess. For all you know they could charge you for an alignment you didn't need in the first place because everything was good and in spec. You really have no idea what they are doing to your car.

 

Even Goodyear Auto Service gave me printouts before and after an alignment (ran GYs on my cars since 2007 or so, but there's Discount Tire in my area now).

Neighbor had his Benz serviced at the local dealer, which included a rotation and balance. He mentioned this to me while we were in his driveway and his car hadn't been washed for a couple of weeks... tons of brake dust on the front wheels. It was so obvious no one even touched the wheels, much less balanced or did a rotation. It doesn't matter where you go, it's always "consumer-beware". The moral compass in this country is quickly moving from "do the right thing" to "do what you want so long as you don't get caught." We are learning this from our politicians... on TV every minute of the day. Why do the right thing when no one is willing to hold you accountable? (oops, going off-topic here).

 

I don't need no stinkin print-out. I have had several alignments done at PEP Boys and watched the car on the machine while the tech did his job. Its not rocket science nor do you need a engineering degree to do one. You can also tell by driving the car if one has been done or not. Hands off the wheel yadda yadda yadda...